The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-01-19

know the lamp ought TO be llgnt.
I'd better go right away and do it,"
said Jack, addressing his companions.
AS they raised no objection, Jack
started, materials in hand, and they
followed--to see, no doubt, that every
thing was done fairly and squarely.
Up the stairs went the trio-Stub ahead,
shutting and peering into all the dark
corners, Jack, with the lamp and oil in
his hand, following warily, and Jane,
with dignity suitable for lady of her
years, bringing up the rear. Jack
knew how to work. He watched his
father daily, and had sometimes been
allowed to help him, so in very short
time a friendly glow of light poured
through the windows of the little tower
and laid bare the deep, treacherous
rocks with blunt distinctness, while
they strove vainly to hide beneath the
stormy waves.
II suppose we might as well get sup
per ready now, against father comes"
and Jack laid the cloth neatly and cut
the bread with a will. Like few rare
and isolated boys of his age, being hun
CRY was Jacks normal condition, re-
lieved at occasional intervals by being
satisfied. Supper was waiting-father's
tea was boiling and bubbling ON the
stove (Jack's limited knowledge of
cooking had not taught him that tea
should never be allowed to boiD, Jacks
basin of broken bread in readiness for
the scalding milk, some dried beef as a
special treat, and plenty of good bread,
cheese and butter besides. Inside, all
was warm and cozy, CHEEKY and home
like; outside, stormy and clustering.
Two hours passed, and still no
father. Jack had made tremendous
effort to delay eating till he arrived,
but bit by bit the broken bread had dis
appeared, followed by other selections
from the bill of fare, while Jane Tapped
saucer of milk, and the quondam
Friday, forgetting his cannibalistic
tendencies, made hearty repast on
dried beef and pieces of Jacks bread
and butter.
"Seven O'Clock, and father not home
yet! Well, the light will burn an hour
yet without fixing. Father says it
will burn longer than that, but it's
safest to look at it every four hours,
and he's sure to be here before it wants
looking to-" So Jack got his favorite
book from the shelf and settled down
for a coy read in his fathers arm
chair near the stove. 1t certainly was
very exciting-where Crusoe and Fri
day discovered the arrival of the one
and-twenty savages and disturbed
them at their revolving repast. But
Jack got up so early mornings, and was
so active all the day, that no wonder
his ideas began to stray and his eyes to
blink and close. Stub had settled him
self near for little quiet meditation
nose between two black, outstretched
fore-paws, and gaze fixed on nothing
in particuar-while Jane, having first
made her toilet for the night by careful
washing and patting, dozed peacefully
behind the stove. Tired Jack slept,
and dreamed he was Crusoe, and had
Just built beautiful sled, and he and
Friday coasted down among the canni-
balls and sent them flying on all sides;
and the old clock licked, licked, while
outdoors the snow blew in whirls, and
weary man fought hard against the
wind and sought to find again the
beaten path to his home. Hour after
hour passed, till the faithful hammer,
striking ten O'Clock, woke Jack in be-
wilderment at not finding himself in
his own little bed.
What's the matter?" he said, shak-
ing himself and standing. Why, how
late it is! What can have happened to
father?"
Stub reused up, but could not answer
the question, so wisely kept silence
people don't always, you know.
"The light! the light! OH suppose
it's gone out l must go up this very
minute to see, though it's awfully
dark; and the stoves gone out,
too, but l can't stop to make it up
now. Come, Stub, you can go with
me if you want to-" said diplomatic
Jack, who really didn't like to go
through all those dark passages and
stairways alone, but who wouldn't have
| Stub know it for the world.
The house had got all cold, and Jack
hunted some time, with shivering
fingers, before he could find the proper
oil for the light. AT last, however, he
found it, spilled lot of it in pouring it
out into the small can, and got the rest
safely up the first flight of stairs, Stub
following rather sleepily. The light
tower was built high above the dwelling
part of the house, and was reached by
several steep flights of stairs, and
finally by ladder to trap-door. The
roof and walls from about four feet from
the floor were glass, and the light, lamp
and reflector stood on kind of stand
ard about five feet high. All the
beautiful brass plates were kept as
brilliant as mirror, and the windows
were transparent and speckless as pure
water. 1t was John Hudson's duty to
keep them in this condition. Inspect
ors were always dropping in at uneX-
pected times, and dismissal from the
post would have followed any lack of
proper attention to these details. But
it was the lighthouse keepers pride to
keep them bright and Furnished, even
beyond any laws and regulations.
Jack reached the foot of the ladder
and was slowly mounting, when his
foot slipped and he fell. Stub looked
at him helplessly and waited for him
to pick himself up. Jack had kept
hold of his lantern, and fortunately it
had not got eXtinguished; the oil-can
fell at little distance.
What's the matter now? What
ails my foot?" said he, making several
Intellectual attempts to stand. "My!
how it hurts!" and he held it in his
hand while he bravely kept the tears
| back 81 guess I've sprained it, or